Culture, Media and Sport CommitteeLetter from Chair to the Rt Hon David Cameron MP, Prime Minister

I am writing to ask if you will give your personal support to the bid to locate the Global Repertoire Database (GRD) in London. I understand that the decision on where to locate the GRD will be at least partly dependent on the level of political support in the relevant country. London’s competitors for the bid are said to be Berlin, Dublin and Paris.

The Global Repertoire Database (GRD) would serve as a centralised, authoritative source of the metadata used to describe musical works. It is an industry-led initiative on behalf of songwriters, composers and publishers. The idea behind it is to provide, for the first time, a single authoritative database of the owners of copyrighted musical works. Locating it in London would be entirely consistent with making the UK a global centre for copyright exchanges. Given the importance of the creative industries and their dependence on a strong and vibrant intellectual property regime, I trust you will join me in expressing your firm support for this initiative with all the opportunities it should provide for promoting the UK creative economy.

The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee is currently conducting an inquiry into support for the creative economy. Although we have not yet concluded this, it is already clear that a strong framework of protection of intellectual property rights is a key factor in the success of our creative industries. By locating the GRD in London, this will send a clear message of the importance that the UK attaches to these industries.

I am also copying this letter to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and to the Minister for Creative Industries.

19 March 2013